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COPYRlCilT DEPOSES 



LYRICS AND SONNETS 



BY 



DOROTHY WHIPPLE pi 



1912- 1914 



PRIVATELY PRINTED 

AT THE RIVERSIDE PRESS 

1914 



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COPYRIGHT, I9I4, BY DOROTHY WHIPPLE 
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 



DEC -4 1914 

©CI.A3878^^'i 
4^0 / 



DEDICATED 
TO MY MOTHER 



CONTENTS 

To MY Mother i 

To MY Father 2 

To MY Mother 3 

Dawn 4 

The Evening Prayer .... 5 
The Soul of the Daffodils ... 6 

What is? 7 

A Woman 8 

Sapientia, Donum Dei .... 9 

To MY Father 10 

A Valentine 11 

Betty's Little Sister . . . .12 
The Sculptor's Dream . . . .13 

Summer 14 

Fall Fires 15 

Thanks for Beautiful Music . .16 

Evening 17 

Inspiration 18 

A Wedding Anniversary . . .19 
In Solitude 20 

V 



CONTENTS 

Love Me 21 

Pain I 22 

Pain II 23 

Shadows 24 

Peace 25 

Beloved, I have met and have communed 26 

The Appeal to the Great Spirit . . 27 

Echo 29 

Homer 30 

Alone 31 

A Loved Spot 32 

Music of the Spheres . . . . 34 

Tides 35 

Song 36 

Imagination 37 

Aspiration 38 

Desire 39 

Song 40 

The Rainbow Bridge . . . .41 

A Tear 42 

Suffering 43 

One by One 44 

To 45 

The Bird's Nest 46 

vi 



CONTENTS 

Grief 47 

Dreams 48 

A Morning Prayer . . . .50 

A Song 52 

The Dawn of a Soul . . . .53 

Hope 54 

Memory 55 

Death 56 

To . . . . . . .57 

To Grandmother 58 

Lincoln 59 

The Statesman 60 

Thoughts 61 

Change 62 

Absent? 64 

Serenade 65 

Contemplation 66 

Sonnet to Rome 67 

A Prayer 68 

FAIRIES AND CHILDREN 

Fairyland 71 

Rose-Dreams 73 

The Frog 74 

vii 



CONTENTS 








Dolly's Picnic 75 


The Naughty Buttercup 




. 77 


The Duck and the Turkey 






78 


When I Woke Up . 






79 


Sparks 










8o 


The Chicken . 










8i 


A Waking Child 










. 82 


Rosebud Cradle 










. 83 


Fancy 










84 


A Question 










. 85 


The Maiden 










. 86 


Visions 










. 88 


The Mother's Visio 


N 








. 89 



A SEQUENCE OF SONNETS 
Beloved, when I dream upon the day . 93 

I LOOK INTO THINE EYES, DEAR HEART, AND 
SEE 94 

Beloved, this one eve hath been for me 95 
Fair evening star, thou sawest all my 

BLISS 96 

o my beloved, as i slept last night . 97 
Ah, tell me, was this bliss all one fond 

DREAM? 98 



CONTENTS 

A WHISPER IN THE PINE TREES FAR AWAy! 99 

MY BELOVED, THIS BLEST DAY IS DONE 100 

1 THANK THEE FOR THY LETTER THAT TO 

ME lOI 

Beloved, as I watched the sun last 

NIGHT 102 

Dearest, the tender hand of Memory 103 
Ah, Love, what if the world had ended 

THERE 104 

Dear one, I feel our lives have grown 

apart 105 

Forgive me, O my friend, I pray thee, do 106 
Bright spirit of the star-kissed, dusky 

NIGHT 107 

What though my lips would utter one 

FOND word 108 

I COULD NOT SPEAK LAST NIGHT MY LOVE TO 
THEE 109 

Beloved, wilt thou come to me this night i 10 

Ah, me, I WISH I HAD THE STRENGTH TO DO III 
Yet, DEAR, I CANNOT BEAR TO THINK OF 

THEE 112 

Dear Friend, I come to thee for one 

LAST WORD 113 

ix 



CONTENTS 

So THOU ART GONE — NOR DO I MOURN 

ALONE 114 

Dear by-gone days that make sweet 

echoes rise ii5 

i dare not take it from between the 

LEAVES 116 



LYRICS AND SONNETS 



TO MY MOTHER 

I LISTENED to the music of the night, 

Its mystic cadences of sound that rose; 

I saw the lilies' drooping petals close. 

And, Dear Heart, there in radiant delight 

I thought of thee, and wondered if I might 

Speak the next day in eloquent echoes 

Of such sweet strains to thee, or love with those 

Deep silent powers of the soft starlight. 

I thought, if when the petals of my life were 

furled, 
By breaths of silent, pregnant thought, the world 
So pleasing distant, how dream-sweet 't would be 
To find within my heart a wish for thee ; 
A birthday prayer that should expression find 
In one love-fragrant kiss borne on hope's wind. 



TO MY FATHER 

Oh, my beloved, is there nothing I 
Can do to prove my endless love for thee? 
Nothing I might say or think that would be 
Full adequate to thank thee for the high 
And manifold gifts of soul wrought by 
Thy hand, of character thou hast giv'n me? 
Thy life is like the ocean waves, and we. 
Whom God hath favored so and thus brought 

nigh. 
Quiver in golden happiness each time 
We feel a freshening wave come surging in. 
Father, how slight each petty care doth seem 
Lost in the vastness of thy love sublime. 
The wave withdraws so then within 
We see love's golden sands of light agleam. 



TO MY MOTHER 

Mother, the hours I spend apart from thee 

Serve only to intensify the bUss 

I feel when thou art near. I acquiesce; 

This separation God hath meted me 

In his great wisdom, knowing that to be 

Apart, yet ever bound by our last kiss 

Together, is the surest bond. And this. 

Too, is the supreme test of loyalty 

And love. True love that like the ocean wave 

Is ever curling up to kiss the beach. 

Bright love that like the first fair star above 

Suggests a glimpse of some new world, and paves 

A star-path 'cross the sky by which we reach 

The land of our heart's desire, O my love. 



DAWN 

Whispering winds from far away — 
Listen, soft voices at break of day! 
The ocean lies like a child asleep, 
Wonderful, wide, mysterious, deep 
The morning star is lost to view. 
In the rosebud sky, like a drop of dew ; 
The lily has opened her petals white. 
And breathed farewell to the dusky night. 



THE EVENING PRAYER 

A SENSE of holiness and peace, 

Of restfulness and sweet release, 

As if the bonds that kept us here 

In worry, pain, and constant fear. 

Fell away and left the mind 

Placid, open, while the wind 

Of holy inspiration blew, 

And fanned,' till life flamed forth anew. 

Soft melodious strains arise, 

In sacred cadence to the skies; 

Hymns of praise are sweetly chanted, 

Answers to our prayers are granted. 

And like flowers to the sun 

Our hearts open one by one 

To let God's great and holy love 

Pour down on them, from Heav'n above; 

What a sense of strength and power 

Thrills us in this blessM hour! 



THE SOUL OF THE DAFFODILS 

A GROUP of slender birches 
Whispering in the breeze, 
A host of golden daffodils 
That dream of the leafy trees. 

A soft, sweet breath of summer 

And shimmering fireflies 

That glide through the trembling birch leaves 

When a golden daffodil dies. 

Perhaps they're the souls of the flow'rs 
That dreamed of the trees above : 
Perhaps the leaves are their heaven 
And they're shining on there in love. 



WHAT IS? 

What is the heart? 

A mystery of love and bliss, 

A fragrant garden of the kiss, 

Warmed by the breeze of happiness. 

And what is love? 

An exultation of the soul, 

A dream that must include the whole, 

The binding link from pole to pole. 

What is a kiss? 

A blossom of the heart's desire, 
A dream to which we all aspire. 
The essence of a heart on fire. 



A WOMAN 

Her heart is as deep as the ocean, 
Her spirit as bright as the foam, 
Her laughter 's Hke rippUng waters, 
Her words the life of the home. 
Her fond eye forever is glowing 
And is filled with a holy light; 
We feel a deep, divine something 
Existing beyond our sight. 
She is tender, loving, and thoughtful, 
Nor ever assumes command, 
Knowing her infinite power lies 
In guiding those close at hand. 



SAPIENTIA, DONUM DEI 

When I consider what it means to know 
And also ponder on the thoughts that men, 
Great noble souls, have left the world, and when 
I follow up the tracks of time that show 
How all were journeying toward the golden glow 
Of knowledge, and realize that the gain 
Derived was great and infinite, I fain 
Could wish that all the world might freely go 
And take as freely of each precious thought 
That like a magic mixture changes life. 
With narrow views to outlooks over time 
Broad and uplifting. 'T is as if life, taught 
To stop a moment before the great strife. 
Leaped forth a hero, into the sublime. 



TO MY FATHER 

What Valentine shall I give to thee 

That will prove my love and constancy? 

Words are but honeycombs of the heart, 

And, dearest, I would my honey impart 

To thee. Not in vain words, but in the thought, 

The nectar that each day hath brought. 

Take it all and let it be 

A Valentine, my love, to thee. 

A wish from my heart's inner shrine 

Breathed, my beloved, into thine. 



10 



A VALENTINE 

Last night as I lay dreaming 
Of a valentine wish for thee, 
A tiny golden star-beam 
Came floating down to me. 
It trembled o'er my heart, dear, 
Then rose and flew away; 
Tell me, did you see a heart 
With golden wings to-day? 



II 



BETTY'S LITTLE SISTER 

It seemed like yesterday 
She lay there breathing soft and low- 
Like lilies when the warm winds blow. 
Now she has gone away. 

Over the sea of sleep, 

Into the purple shades of night, 

She journeyed from our weeping sight; 

Death's slumber is so deep. 

How sweet her baby smile. 
The warm pink lips that drew apart ; 
An angel taught her that sweet art 
And called to her the while. 

We must not be thus sad ; 
The valley of death's shadow passed, 
Her soul will be with God at last 
In purest soul robes clad. 



12 



THE SCULPTOR'S DREAM 

Day after day the sculptor's mind grew tired 
While toiling through the dimness of his tears 
Upon the dear, fond dream of many years. 
He saw the vision that his heart desired 
Of that pure soul to which his own aspired 
And once had loved, with love that so endears 
The being who creates it that when fears 
Long buried are unearthed, the heart once in- 
spired 
Sinks slowly in wild throbs of perfect pain, 
Leaving the world a pleasing afterglow. 
So with the sculptor, on the morn they found 
Him lying at the pure white feet again 
Of her he loved, — his own creation, though 
Not God's. And yet her lips were made for sound. 



13 



SUMMER 

Take me where soft breezes blow, 
Where the sweetest flov/ers grow, 
Where the tiger lily sways 
Lazily on summer days, 
Where the poppy, flaming red. 
Raises her luxuriant head, 
Where the purple clover bends 
With the honey-bee, and lends 
All the sweetness of her flower 
To his nature-given power. 
Let me lift my weary eyes 
To be strengthened by the skies 
Blue and distant, far away. 
They will bend so near one day. 



14 



FALL FIRES 

Summer is gone. The last bright autumn leaves 
Cling trembling to the naked boughs and bare ; 
It seems as if the beautiful and fair, 
The wild, fresh, natural life were dead. The trees 
Stand shivering in the keen autumnal breeze, 
While from the glowing fall-fire altars, there 
Below them, curling like mist clouds in the air, 
Rises the incense of burning leaves. These 
Were hopes. Ah, mortal soul, hast thou not, too. 
Had hours when fall fires smouldered in thy 

heart? 
When thou didst place upon the altar where 
The incense rose thy hopes and prayed anew 
To God for strength. Didst thou not feel fresh, 

rare 
New hope-leaves of spring inspiration start? 



15 



THANKS FOR BEAUTIFUL MUSIC 

Dear friend, we would express our thanks to 

thee 
For those most memorable and perfect hours 
That thou hast given us, with thy great pow'rs 
Of true production, of such melody 
That one must feel uplifted so to be 
Within its reach. Our hearts respond like flow'rs. 
Such melodies to them are sun and show'rs 
By which they may exist in purity. 
The garden of our dreams is fostered, too, 
By the sublime and perfect strains of song 
That echo sweetly and still are heard long 
After the music dies. Our thanks to thee 
We would might vibrate in thy memory, 
As in our souls thy music e'er will do. 



i6 



EVENING 

A THOUSAND voices of the night 
Chanting to the waning Hght; 
The soft mists tremble o'er the lake 
And golden fireflies awake. 

A thousand voices blend in prayer, 
And float upon the eager air, 
Moonbeams falling on the world, 
Bear dream spirits dew impearled. 



17 



INSPIRATION 

Blow, breath of morning, blow 
In upon this dawn of snow; 
In upon the mists that keep 
All the world in silent sleep. 

Blow, gentle wind, until 
I can feel that wondrous thrill ; 
Till the sun shines forth anew, 
From the heavy mist of dew. 

Blow, breath of learning, blow 
Till the mind be all aglow. 
Till the mists be swept away 
And leave to dawn a perfect day. 



i8 



A WEDDING ANNIVERSARY 

Ten years — two souls in contact day by day, 
The while life's petals drew themselves apart 
Revealed love's dewdrop cradled in the heart. 
What is there left for mortal man to say? 
God's angels are so near they seem to stay 
The faltering tongue that would impart 
Some words of blessing. Ah, thrice blest art 
Thou, dear souls! God's gifts pass not away, 
But fostered in the soul-shrine, sanctified 
By sweet pure thoughts, they grow each passing 

hour. 
Ennobled by the ever-present perfect power 
Of love, and God, indeed, hath glorified 
Thy lives — with children who each year express 
The fullness of thy souls, thy happiness. 



19 



IN SOLITUDE 

What is solitude? 

A chord struck by an angel hand, 

An echo from life's unknown strand, 

A dream-crowned moment God hath planned, 

And perfect peace. 

What is a thought? 
A God-suggested ray of light, 
Expression of the soul's insight, 
A miracle of rare delight, 
And child of solitude. 

What is a dream? 
A vision of what may not be, 
The mingling of reality 
Within the cup of mystery. 
The elixir of love. 



20 



LOVE ME 

Love me in the morning; love me, dear, at night 

When the moon shines on us in our supreme de- 
light. 

Speak and say you love me, whisper soft and low; 

Tell the birds that warble and the winds that 
blow; 

So I '11 hear you speaking wherever I may be 

And feel the thrill your presence brings ever unto 
me. 

I want to feel your arms, dear, holding me above 

AH the smallness of this life, lifting me to love. 

I want to feel your lips, dear, pressed close to 
mine, — 

Forget the world and everything except that I 
am thine. 



21 



PAIN 

I 

O God, I thank Thee for my hours of pain, 
The hours that bring thy being near to me, 
The hours when through my tears I seem to see 
My Saviour standing by. I search in vain, 
Or rather fail to search at all in joy. I fain 
Would suffer much so to be brought to Thee 
In deep repentance and humility. 
To feel the blessing of thy love again. 
To reap the rich rewards of quiet thought. 
To know the blessings of an answered prayer, 
To hearken for thy voice, take what thou hast 

taught 
And make it truly mine. To feel all care 
Fold itself like some fair flower and caught 
In to the bosom of the night sleep there. 



22 



PAIN 

II 

Such blessings are the children of our pain. 

And yet how hard it seems to bear the grief. 

How soon we kneel and pray for sweet relief, 

How soon God turns the dark to light again, 

And we ourselves, adrift upon the main 

Of selfish joy, forget the sweet belief 

We knew, forget the hours of thought — in brief, 

Forget all that was best. And what the gain? 

We toss about upon this sea of bliss 

A little while, only to find, at last. 

The storm has drifted us near an abyss 

But e'er we sink, we turn to God and cast 

Our weary beings, soul and body — this 

Is heaven — on God until the storm is past. 



23 



SHADOWS 

A SUNBEAM gliding from the sky 
Saw a shadowy dell close by, 

And longed to look within. 
Trembling with expectancy 
The sunbeam quivered near to see, 

But found no shadow there. 

A soul of love and spirit-light 

Searched for the shadow of life one night 

Under the soft moonbeams. 
Beautiful soul, didst thou not find 
That life's dark shadows, sin entwined, 

Vanished before thy purity? 



24 



PEACE 

Like stately clouds in the summer sky, 
Dear, dreamy memories come floating by ; 
We hear voices calling from far away, 
Sweet and low like the winds at play. 

Soft, warm rays from the setting sun 
Smile on the day that 's almost done; 
Comes a whisper from the lips of thought 
And a miracle of love is wrought. 

Soft, golden moonbeams all the night 
Bring us visions of deep delight; 
By angel songs, we find at dawn 
God's peace within our souls is born. 



25 



Beloved, I have met and have communed 
With those great souls who are endeared to thee, 
Whom thou hast known in those sweet hours 

when free 
From all the pettiness of life, thy soul festooned 
With flow'rs of hope and love, thy senses tuned 
To echo through the vast eternity. 
Thou spok'st with them of wonders still to be. 
Dear one, my very being is consumed 
With fear on thinking of what might have been. 
A throng of butterflies around one's head 
Could hide God's smiling heavens from the eyes; 
I pray that nothing now may come between 
The love I bear for those great souls long dead 
Who watched for accomplishments' great sunrise 
Glow on the pinnacle of perfection. 



26 



THE APPEAL TO THE GREAT SPIRIT 

Who brought thee here, O spirit of the wild, 
Surrounded by these glistening walls of white. 
Strange setting that must fain invite 
A moment's thought, that thou, a lonely child 
Of Nature, shouldst be here amidst the streams 
Of city passers? Even as I gaze at thee there 

seems 
To rise the golden mist of morning from the lake. 
I see the quivering birch leaves trembling shake, 
A startled deer that flees the arrow's sting, 
A camp-fire's gleam with dusky-faced ring, 
A swift canoe that shoots the rapid's foam. 
And dark-eyed maidens seem to watch and roam 
About thee in the moon of love. Beyond 
Thy utmost vision restful hills have donned 
Their soft, suggestive shades of misty spring. 
The very air about thee seems to sing 
With sounds of promise, hope, and life. 
What wonder that the hurried world's wild strife 
Seems lost on gazing at thy face upturned. 
Each for himself may take what is discerned. 
27 



THE APPEAL TO THE GREAT SPIRIT 

Ah, yes, — I thank whoever placed thee here, 

Appealing to the Spirit we hold so dear. 

'T is well that we ourselves should search the 

skies 
And from them learn that Spirit's mysteries. 



ECHO 

An angel grieved in Heaven last night. 
Yet morning rose in shades of light. 
The glory of soft, dawn-kissed skies 
Was but an echo of angels' sighs. 

A heart was trembling in its pain 
Like meadow flow'rs before the rain. 
Two soft lips parted in a smile 
Echoing her grief the while. 



20 



HOMER 

Oh, winged words that hover in the skies 

Of noblest achievement day by day, 

Great minds are weaving networks that shall 

bear away 
Such sweet- voiced, soaring words as their own 

prize ; 
So, great poet of the mystic, sightless eyes, 
Within the confines of thy mind there lay 
With snowy wings at rest, no more a prey 
To slandering tongues, beautiful words and wise. 
Oh, father poet, who didst beg thy bread, 
Wand'ring from home to home, to-day, instead 
Of scanty crusts, men give the best they own. 
Their time and thought to thee, and what is 

known 
Of thy great works. How true it is indeed, 
That prophets lack all honor where they plead. 



30 



ALONE 

Alone, yet all my thoughts are floating out to 

thee, 
Like white gulls soaring near the purple sea; 
Alone, and yet I feel thy hand in mine, 
And gazing into space my eyes meet thine; 
Alone with God's fair angels bending near 
Whispering of thee, my love, I hold so dear, 
Thy voice is in the gentle evening breeze 
That like a dream-thought shimmers through the 

trees ; 
And in the silence of the evening calm 
I feel a soft melodious strain, a charm 
Singing itself into my soul of bliss, 
It is the golden cadence of thy kiss. 



31 



A LOVED SPOT 

Ah, my friend, we will not stay here; 
This is sacred ground, 
And the holy spirit, Memory, 
Still is hovering 'round. 

Not to-day nor yet to-morrow, — 
For my heart leaps up in flame 
When I go there and behold it 
Changed, yet ever more the same. 

Hear the water softly flowing. 
It was thus the day we stood 
Gazing with our eyes on fire 
At the cool depths of the wood. 

See the sunbeams on the water — 
How they dance with fairy glee. 
Ah, they danced within my own soul 
When my loved one was with me. 

Listen how the breeze is sighing. 
But I cannot bear to hear 
32 



A LOVED SPOT 

For the words it is repeating 
Bring but anguish and a tear. 

Yet I think it has been whispering 
Day by day our last good-bye, 
And my soul — I love it ! love it ! 
Shall I stop to wonder why? 

Burning pain and ardent longing, 
Soaring on the wings of prayer, 
Rise unto the height of Heaven, 
Find me peace and comfort there. 



MUSIC OF THE SPHERES 

Sometimes I dream of music far away, 
I think it is faint echoes from the dead, 
Whose souls create soft music overhead; 
Strange music of the spheres, we mortals say, 
Because we do not hear it in the day. 
But only when the stars have pleased to shed 
Their mystic glory round. Our souls are led 
On moonbeams guided by the lips that pray, 
On through the valley of death's deep shade 
Unto the land for which they long have prayed - 
Only a moment, for sleep is not death — 
And while we inhale this earthly breath 
Only the rare dreams of Paradise 
Before our fleeting sleep-fancy may rise. 



34 



TIDES 

My heart is even now at its flood tide; 

The pulsing waves of my most perfect bUss hide 

The little fragments lying on the beach 

And bury them beyond thy utmost reach. 

They wash past traces from the telltale sand 

And lay my hope upon the visible strand. 

Perhaps the fossils treasured in my soul 

Revealed as the chafing waters roll 

Back into the mystic heart of time 

Will seem to thee the forms of thoughtless crime. 

Perhaps the little shells that scattered lie 

Upon my heart, unknowing thou 'It pass by. 

They are, I wiss, but broken fragments, dear, 

Pink-tinted shells that hold a trembling tear. 

How couldst thou call them pearls, my own dear 

one? 
Yet they are fairer far 'neath love's warm sun. 
But still I fear lest the calm ebb shall be 
Empty and displeasing, O my love, to thee. 
Life is swayed by the swirling tides of chance 
And swept by the waves of restless circumstance. 
35 



SONG 

Ah, Love, thou art strong and quiet 
Like the sea when the day is done. 
I fear the storm of thy anger, 
But my love and fear are as one. 

Fear? Do we think of the flower 
As fearing the strong, fresh wind 
That sways her in perfect power? 
Ah, no, for she feels he is kind. 

We cannot think of a moonbeam 
As fearing the troubled sea, 
She lies for hours on his bosom. 
Ah, Love, I cannot fear thee. 



36 



IMAGINATION 

What shall I call thee, Sorceress of the heart? 
Lovely angel and dark demon combined, 
With powers of good and evil entwined. 
Thou two-faced Janus! who canst well impart 
Fair dreams of love, and in our beings start 
The fire of ambition. The frail mind 
Gives audience to thy pageants, till we find 
Enjoyment in the good, nor know apart, 
As played upon thy stage, the false and true. 
But, oh, that thy great precepts ended here; 
That jealousies, given birth by thee, few 
And fewer grew ; that friends we held so dear 
By trick of thine would not be lost. Endue 
Us, then, with brightest hope, not anxious fear. 



37 



ASPIRATION 

All *s over, all the pain and sickening grief; 

The struggle, too, is o'er, and I am weak. 

My God, it is thy wondrous love I seek, 

I know that it alone can bring relief. 

And yet how dare I hope — mine unbelief 

Hath been so great, I dare not speak 

To Thee, coming from the highest, coldest peak, 

Of jealousy. Ah, God, I would as lief 

That I were dead. I called not on Thee then 

But now, death-weak and in my pain, when 

All is over and the night is dark. 

I listen through the long hopeless hours ; hark ! 

A star voice, and it softly says to me, 

" Poor soul, thy God is even now near thee." 



38 



DESIRE 

My soul's dream like a summer cloud came by, 
Floating in dull suspense 'midst the deep blue, 
The ether of my life. God only knew. 
A prayer was wafted to Him on a sigh 
From out a broken heart, and He, thereby, 
Realized the rare soul-dream. I little knew 
That 't was God's sanction made the dream come 

true. 
I only felt my heart's desire nigh, 
And all my being trembled with delight. 
The world seemed far away, a sphere of light 
Glowing and filled with every rainbow shade. 
With dizzy streaks that swirl and gleam and fade ; 
Then came a sudden grief and cleft the sphere. 
My soul's dream vanished, and was gathered in 

a tear. 



39 



SONG 

The spray from the waves in our heart leaps high 
And forms a tear in the trembling eye. 
The love of our soul leaps up, I wiss, 
And falls in a rainbow spray — a kiss. 



4.0 



THE RAINBOW BRIDGE 

I WAS thinking of a birthday wish 

That I might send to thee, 

A rainbow that should touch thy heart 

And bridge it o'er for me. 

I thought how sweet a thing 't would be 

To have our love combine 

To create a lovely rainbow — 

All thy dear love and mine. 

And then each day when the hours 

Seemed long, and trying, too. 

Our hearts could cross our rainbow bridge 

And love as hearts must do. 

And whenever they made the journey 

The precious jar of gold 

Would be at the end of the rainbow 

With blessings all untold 



41 



A TEAR 

O MY soul, when falls the night, 

Take thy tender, dear delight. 

Let the angel Memory 

Hover gently over thee. 

Let God's spirit kiss thy face, 

Dim through tears and dim through space; 

Kiss the lips that seem to smile. 

Sweet, my soul, dream on the while. 

Morning wakes us, soul of fear; 

God gives sanction to a tear 

Falling, and the sunrise far 

Takes it to the morning star. 



42 



SUFFERING 

Deep silence of the thoughtful, mystic night! 
Ah, God, I heard a low, sad voice crying — 
It was the last strange call. Some one is dying, 
And this is Christmas Eve. Starlight, 
Moonbeams, gather all your rays, and bright 
With glory flash into this heart sighing 
And moaning. Ah, God, who is it dying? 
Alone in the depths of life's somber light. 

Child of the world, with nature close to thee 
Canst thou not feel the pulsing arm of pain 
Crushing weak human souls ; they strive in vain 
Against its cruel clutch — canst thou not see 
Day after day the toilers come and go, 
Watching through self-denial's eyes thy pomp 
and show? 



43 



ONE BY ONE 

One by one the soft, golden leaves 
Fall in the sunlight from the trees. 

And one by one my thoughts float by 
Like rainbow bubbles to the sky. 

One by one fond memories rise 

And visions charm my dreaming eyes. 

One by one old friends draw near — 
Friends I love and hold so dear. 

One by one Heaven imparts 
Perfect blessings to our hearts. 



44 



TO 



God, I thank thee for a new-found friend 
Whom Thou in thy great goodness didst send 
To me. One more true soul that I can trust, 
One more dear life that I may watch, and must, 
By the great laws of friendship, serve and love. 
Dear Lord, thy fairest gift from Heaven above 

1 humbly receive, render Thee a prayer 
Of thanks and gratitude for Thy fond care 
That brought our lives together, and then, too, 
That Thou wilt teach me ever to be true, 
Trusting, helpful, loving, sincere, and strong. 
That this new friendship may be deep and long. 



45 



THE BIRD'S NEST 

I FOUND a little bird's nest 'neath a tree. 
Would it seem strange if I should tell thee how 
That little nest seemed like my life, now 
Empty of four delicate joys to me 
So dear? And do you ask what they may be? 
Well, first, God's holy love full sweet enow, 
And then the blessing of home life, and thou, 
Love, near. Ah, great and pure my love for thee! 
And then there was such perfect peace and rest. 
Now they are gone. I cannot think 't was best. 
And yet the breeze of spring is breathing low, 
A certain tender happiness I know 
Is mine. Memory is a gentle bird. She came 
And, oh, her breast is warm, — though not the 
same. 



46 



GRIEF 

Ah, Grief, since first thou curled thyself within 
The confines of my soul and careless brought 
The tender edges round thee till they wrought 
A chrysalis, I have felt a new strange life begin, 
A life of pain and struggling with sin ; 
A life that seems to grapple with all thought 
Of peace and love, as if the soul were caught 
And held by some strange power that entered in. 
It seems I cannot teach my heart to love 
This unknown form of grief or bear such pain ; 
But, O my soul, be patient yet awhile, — 
The butterfly that floats and soars above 
The torn and empty chrysalis, will gain 
New power and strength from heavenward flights 
the while. 



47 



DREAMS 

A HOPE that we must sacrifice, 
A dream of forgotten tragedies, 
A death-pale face before our eyes, 
And this is pain. 

A whisper from the far away, 
Fond visions of another day; 
A yearning of the heart to pray. 
And this is longing. 

A moment when all worries cease, 
A scene of restfulness and peace, 
Of isolation and release. 
And this is prayer. 

A love thought flashing through the heart, 
A dream in which, dear one, thou art 
The radiant and perfect part, 
And this is hope. 
48 



DREAMS 

A vacillating memory, 
A dream of past and still to be, 
A breath of the eternity, 
And this is life. 



A MORNING PRAYER 

That to-day may be spent In the presence of thy 

great, perfect calm, 
That Thou wilt lead me ever, and guide me from 

all harm, 
That Thou wilt make me loving in everything I 

do. 
Help me to be loyal, thoughtful, strong, and 

true. 
Help me to do for every one that which best I 

may. 
To make some lives the happier as lived from day 

to day. 
Grant me an understanding of all that I would 

know. 
Let me see what best to keep and what best to 

let go. 
Help me to be loyal to each precious friend 
Whom Thou in thy great mercy unto me didst 

send. 
In Jesus' name I ask it, and that I may learn to 

pray 

50 



A MORNING PRAYER 

With all my heart and soul in the truest, holiest 

way, 
O Christ, our Intercessor, intercede for me. 
Cleanse me of my many sins and set my spirit 

free. 



A SONG 

When my eyelids close, Love, 
Come thou unto me 
Like a soft, white rose. Love, 
Wet with purity. 

And gently on my lips, Love, 
Press thy saving kiss, 
E'er the darkness leads me 
Into death's abyss. 



52 



THE DAWN OF A SOUL 

O BREATH of morning, fan to life 

The sleeping powers in me. 

O golden sunrise, flood my eye 

That I may ever see 

Thy glorious light before me 

And feel the wondrous thrill 

That broke on me when thy splendor 

First rose o'er the distant hill. 

O spirit of my pine tree. 

Enter into me, 

Make me strong and trustful. 

Make me glad and free. 

O God, who caused the morning 

To dawn from depths of night, 

Take Thou my soul and teach it 

To rise and create light. 



53 



HOPE 

Fair bubble In the ether of delight 
Still floating in our dream of happiness ! 
How beauteous are the rainbow tints of bliss 
That surge within the mystic sphere, now light, 
Now full and lustrous, as our hope grows bright 
With the joy of expectation. Ah, this 
Is the fatal moment — a fairy's kiss 
Perhaps too lovingly imparted and night 
Ensues. The distant vista of our dreams 
Vanishes into the empty air. Sad 
And unlovely seems the world, yet see, 
Where the bubble fell a new hope gleams ! 
Breathe upon it, lonely soul, and be glad; 
'T is thus we hope for all eternity. 



54 



MEMORY 

I THOUGHT the germ of joy was dead in me; 

But some fair angel, knowing how I prize 

The golden dreams to which Mem'ry giveth rise, 

Breathed into my sad soul a melody 

So sweetly chanted that I seemed to see 

A glimpse of the dim past before my eyes 

And visions of a future Paradise. 

How vain and foolish, yet how radiantly 

Sublime! Sweet, dreamy-eyed Oblivion, 

Thy hand was on my brow of fevered pain, 

And thou didst ever entertain 

The garish present that I might commune 

With those true souls I love to dream upon ; 

They meet me sometimes now in starlit hours 

Among the soft moonbeams and fragrant flow'rs. 



55 



DEATH 

Death, great and powerful! all life must die. 
Whatever feels that wondrous thrill must know 
Thy touch, O Death, endure thy cruel blow 
That ever is inflicted. We would ask why? 
There is no answer, only, "all must die." 
Yet what is death that we should here below 
In pain and horror fear its powers so? 
The grave is but a gateway to the sky! 
Thus let us look upon the death of hope; 
We suffer keenly while we bury each 
Fond wish, and then in darkness seem to grope. 
For a sad time, life is drifted beyond reach 
Of all that's good, and lets the dark envelope 
Till some new dawn of hope shall fill the breach. 



56 



TO 

Dear soul, thy earthly strife is o'er, 
Nor pain or wrong can harm thee more ; 
Our grief would almost seem to be 
Unbearable, but happily 
When the cloud of bitter grief 
Shall pass away, the sweet relief 
Of perfect trust in God will bring 
Thanks for such a blessed thing 
As Christian death. This earthly life. 
With all its trials, pain, and strife. 
Is but a step by which we rise 
To God, to Christ, and Paradise. 



57 



TO GRANDMOTHER 

Her soul I know is in heaven, but her presence is 

very near; 
The light of her perfect life is forever shining 

clear ; 
I feel, as I gaze at midnight up to those worlds 

beyond, 
That I see her face in the starlight, the look so 

calm and fond. 
And when at eve I am praying, God opens the 

golden gate, 
And I see her, a beautiful angel whom we have 

lost of late. 
In the peaceful and thoughtful hours I hear her 

speak to me 
Of Paradise, of Heaven and all its mystery. 
I can faintly remember her with us, the dear, 

strong, kind face 
Filled with the soul's animation of holiness and 

grace. 
And now, as I call upon her in the realms above, 
I see her made more holy by God's most perfect 

love. 

58 



LINCOLN 

Great soul, we would commune with thee, 

Render our thanks, and strive to be 

Inspired by the thought of all 

That bade thee answer the great call 

Which came to thee in words of light 

Dawning from slavery's darkest night. 

Our country's voice will never be 

Silent in her praise of thee 

For the work that thou hast done 

In making this great country one. 

And thou, great master in the strife, 

For the supreme cause gav'st thy life, 

Ever selfless that we might be 

Confirmed in strength and liberty. 

And to-day we would renew 

The thanks that truly are thy due. 



59 



THE STATESMAN 

Great as the ocean he must be and strong, 
With depths that swallow up the foam of chance, 
Thought waves that lash the shore of circum- 
stance. 
He must have power to divert all wrong, 
To work unceasingly and labor long. 
In short, give all his life to see advance 
Great works beneath his enterprising glance. 
To him the love of Nature must belong, 
The vision of the greatest and the best, 
Deep woods and lofty mountains, — so the rest 
Of life in measuring to that perfect height 
Must stand the test or vanish in the light 
Of higher worth. And his ideal shall be 
Made living by the breath of liberty. 



60 



THOUGHTS 

A HOST of golden fireflies 
That shimmer through the trees, 
How bright their little lights show 
Against the cool, dark leaves! 

Perhaps they're thoughts the great tree 
Dreamed over all the day, 
But were only given expression 
After the light died away. 

'T is thus with many a mortal: 

In the darkest hours of all 

The inquisitive world that is watching 

Sees a light in the soul's dark hall. 



6i 



CHANGE 

Is that her baby shoe? 

It must, indeed, have been full long ago 

She wore it. Look at the little toe 

Rubbed and worn, 

Scratched and torn. 

She wore it — that is true. 

She never will again. 

That little shoe with which she kicked the chair 

Because she fell on it, is lying there, 

Watching her feet 

Lead her to meet 

A new and greater pain. 

Was that her baby smile? 
Ah, it was long ago that she smiled so! 
Before she had to suffer and to know 
Of life and love — 
When Heaven above 
Was blissfully near the while. 
62 



CHANGE 

She does not smile so now. 

There is a new, sad sweetness bom of pain. 

Ah, no! I ask not for the baby smile again — 

We do not sigh 

For the butterfly 

Who leaves the cocoon on the bough. 



ABSENT? 

It is an inspiration, dear, to feel 
That thou art near me every night and day 
In thought, although thou may'st be far away 
In person. 'T is my joy to break the seal 
Of the subconscious mind and then appeal 
To thy keen senses, while I softly pray 
To God, the great transmitter, that He may 
Forever keep this bond of nature real, 
Intense, and vivid, so I may commune 
With thee, beloved, and with spirits bright 
Keep the instruments of the soul in tune 
To operate in silence through the night. 
I count it as a priceless, precious boon 
And from it breathe the essence of delight. 



64 



SERENADE 

Mellow moonlight on the sea; 
Golden, tender thoughts of thee. 

Starlight, starlight, far away. 
Smile upon my love, I pray. 

Dreams of bliss and dreams of pain 
Kiss her longing soul again. 

Memory, of the dreamy eyes, 
Speak of my lost Paradise. 



65 



CONTEMPLATION 

What was I in the other life? 
What shall I be? 

And must we always have the strife? 
Ah, wait and see! 

The past and future, God, are thine. 
So let it be. 

The golden present that is mine, 
Go carefully. 

In the vast and great hereafter 
All hatred dies ; 

Love is crowned in all her glory 
By self-sacrifice. 



66 



SONNET TO ROME 

Majestic City of the distant past, 
Now is thy fire of glory burning low, 
Smouldering 't is true, and yet we know 
Only too well that from such sparks at last 
And from the full and time-rich splendor cast 
Upon the world by thee, we feel a glow 
Which makes us recognize how much we owe 
To thy great example. Thou art the mast 
Of every ship of state that sets its sail 
To ride upon development's wide sea. 
And in thy mighty ruins we may learn 
How discipline and firm, just law entail 
Upon the struggling nations liberty 
That mingles with obedience high and stern. 



67 



A PRAYER 

A PRAYER for my loved one — what shall it be? 

That she may have a life of happiness, 

Love, and perfect peace? Ah, no, for this 

Is vain and foolish. Tell me, what if we 

Were happy always — no suffering — Ah, me! 

What an unsightly pool of stagnant bliss 

We 'd be, no influx — no wild wind to hiss 

And lash the waters into foam. For thee, 

O best belovM, I will make this prayer: — 

That thou shalt have thy share of pain. 

But, O my love, that God will give thee power 

Silently to suffer and Christ-like bear 

It all. To love — to trust — and thus to know 

And meet him face to face in each dark hour. 



68 



FAIRIES AND CHILDREN 



FAIRYLAND 

Where is the land of fairies? 
I would I might go there to-night 
And play with the beautiful spirits 
Till the rosy morning light. 

When I reached the rainbow gateway 
I would ask for the dreamland queen, 
She would come from a dusky shadow 
In robes of shimmer and sheen. 

She would stand a moment before me, 
Then stretch out her soft white hand. 
And twining her arms about me 
Would lead me to fairyland. 

At first my eyes would be dazzled 

By the wondrous opal light, 

And my heart would throb like a sunbeam 

And quiver in glory bright. 

Before me upon his throne. 
With the moonlight in his eyes, 
71 



FAIRYLAND 

I would see the king of sleep-land, 
And his fairies the "drowsy sighs." 

And then we should hear faint music, 
Like raindrops that fall from the eaves 
And mingle with the murmur 
Of telltale whispering leaves. 

The fairies sing so sweetly. 
At nights when the moon is high, 
Some folks who are listening, 
Call it the song of the sky. 

Their wings are like mists of the morning. 
With colors of every hue, 
Their eyes are like little diamonds. 
Or delicate drops of dew. 

They dance like the breath of evening, 
In circles beneath the trees; 
In truth, I have heard some that say 
"Oh, feel the soft evening breeze." 

They sail on the golden moonbeams, 
And glide on the starlit sea; 
How wonderful are the fairies. 
And how perfect their lives must be! 



ROSE-DREAMS 

I USED to think this little stream 

Came 'way from Fairyland 

Because, as I watched the shadows 

Float on the golden sand, 

I thought I saw strange elfin shapes 

That smiled and threw a kiss. 

Then, gurgling, hurried down the brook 

To the sea of mystic bliss. 

Then once I saw a rose leaf 

Come floating down the stream 

Bearing a tiny elf sprite. 

The spirit of a dream. 

That night I dreamed of sunbeams 

And roses of delight. 

I saw the little fairy, too. 

That radiant, dream-kissed night. 



73 



THE FROG 

There was a lovely, big, green frog, 

Who lived in a sparkling brook. 

Each evening when our Mary passed 

She stopped to have a look. 

One night she saw a great big stone 

Where her froggie used to sit, 

And Mary thought that her green frog 

Must surely be under it. 

Gently she lifted the stranger stone, 

And there to her surprise 

A little man all dressed in green 

Stood before her eyes. 

He looked so much like froggie 

That at last she dared to speak. 

But that small man all dressed in green 

Did n't even squeak. 

At last (he seemed so very still) 

She let the big stone fall. 

Her own green frog glided out 

And he was n't a man at all! 



74 



DOLLY'S PICNIC 

Dolly had a picnic out on the lawn to-day, 
She asked the neighbors' dolUes all to come and 

play, 
But one poor, ragged little one did n't have a 

dress, 
She stood outside the garden gate and wept in 

her distress. 
Her cheeks were pale and dirty, she only had one 

eye, 
I felt so badly for her it almost made me cry. 
Then all at once I saw a doll dressed in silk and 

lace. 
With golden curls of lovely hair so soft about her 

face. 
She was a very pretty doll, with bright blue, smil- 
ing eyes, 
That saw the little poor one and she heard her 

longing sighs. 
In all her lovely silk and lace she climbed the 

garden gate. 
And brought the ragged stranger in as her own 

little mate. 

75 



DOLLY'S PICNIC 

Only the dollies* angel can know what a perfect 

day 
The little raggety doll had and the love she bore 

away. 



THE NAUGHTY BUTTERCUP 

The buttercup was dreaming all last night, 
She ate too much before she went to bed, 
A "skeeter" bumped her little golden head 
Because he could n't see by the starlight. 

She woke this morning cross as she could be, 
Sweet daisy said, " Good-morning, Buttercup. " 
The naughty flower turned her petals up 
And hurt the daisy's feelings awfully. 



77 



THE DUCK AND THE TURKEY 

The duck and the turkey had a squabble 

As to who knew best how to gobble. 

The duck said, "Quack, quack, 

Dear old Turk, you are slack, 

And you Ve not an aristocratic wabble." 

"Gobble, gobble," said the turkey in reply, 

"You cannot strut as beautifully as I, 

With my delicate long feet 

I can walk just as neat 

As the dainty girl who just passed us by." 

"Quack, quack," said the little duck once more, 

"This argument was started I am sure 

On the subject of our gobbles. 

Not of our different hobbles. 

Let me prove mine with this grain upon the floor." 



78 



WHEN I WOKE UP 

Feet are funny things, are n*t they? - 
Walking, walking, all the day. 
I wonder what they think at night 
When mother dear puts out the light. 
Once when I was fast asleep 
I felt one of my bad feet creep 
Softly over to the edge, 
It nearly tumbled o'er the ledge. 
It jumped so hard before it fell 
I woke, but could n't seem to tell 
Where it was. "Oh, dear!" I said, 
** To-morrow I must stay in bed; 
I cannot walk without my leg. 
I'll have to get a wooden peg." 
Well, luckily, when I awoke 
My foot was there and not a spoke. 
I was as glad as I could be 
That my own foot was still with me. 



79 



SPARKS 

What do you see in the fire? 

Look at the golden flame 

And see the enchanted castle, 

The fortress without a name. 

A fair^^ lives in the castle, 

Singing day and night, 

Beautiful songs of sorrow 

And songs of rare delight. 

She is called the fain.' of dreamland ; 

And see, a tiny spark 

Has flown far up the chimney. 

And is lost in the realms of the dark. 

Do you think the spark is lost, dear? 

Oh, no, 't is a dream for thee. 

And to-night you will learn a secret 

Taught by the dream fair^^ 

And be told of the beautiful dream sparks 

That the star fairies bring each night, 

They nestle into thy heart's depths 

And twinkle till morning's light. 



80 



THE CHICKEN 

I WONDER why the chicken 
Is so funny when she drinks. 
She takes the water in her bill, 
Then never stops and thinks, 
But puts her head away 'way back 
And holds it there until 
The water has all run away 
Down her small red hill. 



A WAKING CHILD 

Dear child, I watched thee in thy sleep but now 
And felt some strange and holy presence nigh, 
As if thy guardian angel, passing by, 
Paused for one moment to kiss thy fair brow. 
I almost thought I saw her gently bow 
And let her wings in quiet splendor lie 
About thee, precious one, so that thy sigh 
Of blissful baby joy would seem enow 
To rustle the soft down. Ah, God was near 
Guarding thy peaceful sleep. Thy wide, blue 

eyes 
On opening gazed at me, fresh with dew 
Of fair, Elysian flow'rs and that mild, clear 
Look of innocent question showed surprise 
As though beholding something wholly new. 



82 



ROSEBUD CRADLE 

My soul slept in a rosebud all last night. 
I felt it float away like a dream thought 
And gazing after, I beheld it caught 
And folded in the blossom out of sight, 
For hours it lay a-quiver with delight 
Against the velvet petals wondrous wrought. 
Nor once until the glad fresh day dawned sought 
To leave its bower. Then with the first warm 

light 
Of morning, when the petals drew apart, 
A dawn-kissed breath was wafted back to me; 
Only a fragrance then, now come to be 
A soul of rose-shades and dream-laden thoughts. 
Exultantly thrilling with the honey rose-draughts. 
Ah, my poor soul, go thou and sleep each night 
Within a flow'r, — God keeps His flow'rs of light. 



83 



FANCY 

Fond realm of fancy where our dreams come 

true, 
'T is pleasant wand'ring in the mystic light 
Of thy cool groves. Many the coveted sights 
We see, many the wondrous deeds we do, 
When hope is whispering of a radiant, new 
Wish. Far distant in the dim blue shades of night 
Rises the peak of realization's height. 
The dreams that reach it, sad to say, are few. 
They hover 'round like sea gulls in the air, 
Uttering soft, languid cries until they die. 
Leaving a rainbow hope — a trembling sigh — 
Within the heart from which they came. Such 

fair 
Yet sad mementoes we may take away 
And foster till we dream another day. 



84 



A QUESTION 

"Mother, what makes the rose so pink 
With the sparkling tear in her eye?" 

"Listen, dearest, and you shall know, 
How one mystic day gone by, 

"A tender, loving evening breeze 
Kissed her and went his way, 
The rose blushed pink and a sparkling tear 
Filled her soul from that day." 



85 



THE MAIDEN 

She was a flower in herself, 
A dainty little woodland elf, 
With every charm that Nature lends 
To those who fain would be her friends. 
When she drew near, one seemed to see 
Each lovely flower perfectly 
Reproduced, and music sweet 
Swayed the motions of her feet. 
The wild rose lent its dainty pink 
To her fair, soft cheeks, I think. 
And the buttercup turned its chalice of gold 
Upon her beautiful hair, I 'm told. 
The cardinal flower kissed her lips, 
And fondled her dainty finger tips. 
The pine tree breathed its spirit wild 
Into the heart of the lovely child. 
The little fawn with dreamy eyes 
Gazed on her in rapt surprise ; 
Her deep brown eyes gave back the look 
As lovely as the one she took. 
As full of innocent love and light, 
86 



THE MAIDEN 

Of dreamy beauty and delight. 
The lily with its purity 
Steeped her soul of a surety 
And heaven bent to be close by 
And guard her virgin purity. 



VISIONS 

Half buried in the mystic realm of thought 
She lay, the while bright visions came and went; 
Fair dreams on whose fulfillment deep intent 
Fluttered and quivered, like gay fairies caught 
In snares of something low and common wrought. 
From such fair dreams great strength to her was 

sent 
To soar on the wings of disappointment; 
For often, when her wildest fancy led 
Her to dwell on things which might not be, 
She felt an overpowering hand restrain, 
And angel voices whispering, which said, 
"Dear child, these dazzling dreams are not for 

thee. 
Thine rather is the sweetness of borne pain." 



88 



THE MOTHER'S VISION 

Peace, perfect peace, for this is Christmas Day, 

Love, holy love, sweet tender thoughts of Thee, 

Dear Christ, and of thy loved ones. See 

The walls are bright with holly, and away 

Over the fields of snow are souls that pray 

For all this Christmas Eve most lovingly. 

I see an angel standing 'neath a tree, 

That takes the semblance of a cross. And stay, 

She holds a spray of holly in her hand ; 

She smiles and we are left to understand 

The rest. What mean those ragged leaves of 

thorn 
And drops of scarlet? When our Lord was born 
An angel laid upon the mother's breast. 
This emblem of His anguish and her test. 



89 



A SEQUENCE OF SONNETS 



Beloved, when I dream upon the day, 

That dear and sacred day when I met thee 

And felt thy overwhelming purity 

Sink deep into my soul and wash away 

Each petty stain upon my life, I pray 

To God since then that thou, dear one, may'st be 

Forever near to guide and strengthen me 

In all fine ways that holy friendship may. 

Perhaps I never knew until that hour 

What manifold sweet charms true friendships 

lend; 
But now God knows I recognize that pow'r 
And render fervent thanks for my dear friend 
In whom I find a precious, priceless dower 
Of love, and feel all joys of Heaven blend. 



93 



I LOOK into thine eyes, dear heart, and see 
Such sacred holy depths of love that ere 
My longing heart has fully grown aware 
From hidden coals long latent within me 
I feel a warmth and glow. Thy purity, 
Dear, would seem to flood my being; I care 
Not what becomes of me, and so I dare, 
Still gazing fondly in thine eyes, to be 
All that God and thou couldst ask. I move, dear, 
In a sweet dream of pure delight and bliss, 
Feeling, my own beloved, thee, so near 
And the fond touch of thy inspiring kiss 
Healing each wound and calming every fear 
And bringing a heaven of happiness! 



94 



Beloved, this one eve hath been for me 
So full, so perfect, so sublimely sweet 
I hardly feel these empty words are mete 
To thank God for the hours I spent with thee. 
'T was a breath from the vast eternity 
Touching my longing soul like music fleet. , 
And these sacred echoes I hear repeat 
Themselves o'er and o'er, while I seem to see 
The same stars of wonder that met my eyes 
And feel the same warm breeze that touched my 

face — 
A breath from the heavens that brought to me 
A blessing, a fair dream of paradise ! 
The leaves were a-tremble about the place, 
O dear one, as my heart was before thee. 



95 



Fair evening star, thou sawest all my bliss; 
I watched thy mystic light that quivered o'er 
Us as we trembling — op'd love's golden door; 
For, my belovM, 't was thy perfect kiss 
That proved the magic key and made of this 
Drear world a paradise, while evermore 
The angels of deep adoration pour 
Into my longing soul true happiness. 
Ah, God was good to us who gave such love 
Its birth within the mortal soul's confine; 
'T is like a fragile chrysalis that holds 
Until one magic hour a grub. Above 
Our heads we next behold the butterfly. 
And God the wondrous mystery unfolds. 



96 



MY beloved, as I slept last night 

1 felt a gentle hand pressed over mine. 
Knowing that angels have a touch divine, 
I trembled lest this visitation might 

Be that of death. I thought I felt my sight 
Grow dim, — a voice called from another clime. 
I thought it, too, was death's — but it was thine. 
And all my soul was bathed in golden light. 
The voice of love and death seem oft the same, 
Perhaps because God's spirit prompts them both ; 
A sigh escaped my lips of trembling bliss 
And wove itself into thine own dear name. 
God's lovely radiant angel, as if loath 
To leave, smiled down and left a bright star-kiss. 



97 



Ah, tell me, was this bliss all one fond dream? 
Or, sweetheart, didst thou really come to me 
Last night and take my hand full tenderly 
In thine, and when I would withdraw it, deem 
It all too soon? — Ah, me, such visions seem 
So real — I feel the pressure still and see 
Thine eyes that held my gaze so lovingly 
Like the soft mystic light of a moonbeam. 

my beloved, thou art strong and true; 

1 love thee with a love that cannot die; 
I love thee as the flowers love the sun 
And turn to it for strength in all they do. 

I love thee as our Lord hath taught me, aye. 
He bade me love thee e'en when life is done. 



98 



A WHISPER in the pine trees far away! 
They are calling, O my love, unto thee. 
A heaving in the bosom of the sea! 
Soft breezes sighing at the break of day! 
Full well I know what these soft breezes say. 
A soul-breath fresh from tender memory 
And golden thoughts of radiant love wafts free 
From thought-sealed lips which cannot seem to 

say 
E'en three short words, " I love thee." Strange it 

seems 
When all my heart is overflowed with bliss 
And rainbow dreams of perfect happiness, 
That I must let the silence of my heart 
Strive to speak for me and thus impart 
To thee my love with all its tender dreams. 



99 



MY belovM, this blest day is done; 

The evening shadows steal upon the world, 

The waters that have chafed all day lie curled 

And sleep like white rose petals 'neath the sun, 

Who lays his ruddy fingers, one by one. 

Upon the placid surface. My thoughts are furled 

Like close-kept parchments while night, star-im- 

pearled. 
And rich in mystery, is just begun. 
It seems as if the leaves of Mem'ry fell 
Apart, as 't were by magic, while I pray 
To God that He will grant me such a day 
Again. Ah, Hope, thou hast I know full well, 
Climbed far too high, on Realization's height, 
Thy radiant colors vanish from my sight. 



100 



I THANK thee for thy letter that to me 

Was welcome as the gentle, heaven-sent rain 

And seemed much like it, as it touched the plain 

Of my existence, arid and empty. 

All noblest thoughts and feelings came to be 

So stirred within my soul, that they would fain 

Move upward from the barren soil and drain 

The precious drops of inspiration. See, 

A rainbow trembles over all my life. 

It touches the sweet shore of memory 

And arches to the land of mystic dreams, 

Such blissful dreams as beautiful and rife 

Will fill the chalice of the life to be. 

O precious show'r, with thy rainbow gleams! 



lOI 



Beloved, as I watched the sun last night 
Quiver with dazzling glory in the sky 
Before it sank, two birds came floating by 
And on a sudden vanished in their flight. 
Lost in the dazzling splendor of the light. 
Dearest, I thought of thee and wondered why 
Thou cam'st just then before my inward eye, 
Suggested by this unaccustomed sight. 
Then all at once I thought how often I 
Have felt the dark forms of my pain and woe, 
That fluttered 'round my heart, float toward the 

sun 
Of thine existence, and thus borne on high 
Vanish within the overpowering glow 
Of perfect light. Such is thy pow'r, dear one. 



102 



Dearest, the tender hand of Memory- 
Hath traced upon my heart in lines of gold 
The record of one perfect hour. I hold 
It richest of all hours spent with thee, 
And render thanks for what it meant to me. 
But words are vain, 't is better left untold, 
For often with a word our dreams are sold. 
Sometimes to-day I think that I can see 
The dusky shadows gliding all around 
And hear the ever-sighing, mystic sound 
Of pine trees whispering. Thy voice, dear, seems 
Still speaking to me ever soft and low, 
I hear the echoes everywhere I go 
And mingle thee in all my perfect dreams. 



103 



Ah, Love, what if the world had ended there, 
One moment past, what time my happiness 
Seemed perfect and complete. Dear heart, thy 

kiss 
Still warm upon my lips had been the prayer 
To calm my soul before I died. O rare 
And sacred hour, like a vision this, 
Trembling one moment o'er our souls of bliss, 
Then vanishing into the empty air. 
But yet thou wouldst not say 't was lost. Ah, no, 
For heaven 's but a mirror of this life 
Reflecting all of our most perfect hours 
And magnifying them. Ah, loved one, so 
I had not minded if this earth's sore strife 
Had ended then with thee among the flowers. 



104 



Dear one, I feel our lives have grown apart: 
The current of success hath borne thee far 
And left me struggling here lest I should mar 
Even in some slight way thy perfect art, 
Thy great redeeming powers of good. Depart, 
Then, from me — I beg thee go — while thy star 
Of genius burns so bright, lest by a scar 
That I might leave upon thy life, thy heart. 
Whose love hath been so sweet, would turn and 

hate 
My very being. I cannot bear that thought. 
Better to keep the precious mem'ry fate 
Hath meted me; the joys my love hath brought 
In days gone by. Bear all and patient wait. 
This much have weary years of suff 'ring taught. 



105 



Forgive me, O my friend, I pray thee, do. 
I love thee truly and for thee would fain 
Do all within my power, so to gain 
Thy full forgiveness. Tell me, is it true, 
Dost thou believe I turned from thee and knew 
The while thou wished to speak? Alas, this pain 
Is deep, unbearable! I dare not think again 
How all this came to pass. How came the blue 
Of heaven flecked with clouds, how came the rose 
To have her cruel thorns, God only knows. 
And when I wonder how our great love came 
To be betrayed, my loved one; 't is the same, 
God only knows, and waits for us to see 
The strange development of mystery. 



1 06 



Bright spirit of the star-kissed, dusky night, 
I loved the vision that thou gavest me 
To dream upon until my eyes could see, 
My love, my heart's desire. Oh, the sight 
Was danger-sweet, and all my strange delight 
Trembling like a living flame leaped free 
From weak life confines to a vast eternity 
Of dream-love and a world of spirit-light. 
Dearest, I dreamed that thou forgav'st me all 
And took my hand full tenderly in thine 
Promising to forget, love me again 
As once thou didst. I thought I heard thee call - 
I dared not answer lest the soft dream-shine 
Should vanish and my soul be steeped in pain. 



107 



What though my lips would utter one fond 

word, — 
Thou would'st not understand my love, I fear; 
Thou dost not know the cause of this bright tear 
That like a flower of the springtime stirred 
First within my soul's far depths, then o'erheard 
A voice and struggled up. And, thou wert near. 
Perhaps it was thy soul-breath whispering. Dear, 
I fear me that is what my heart inferred. 
Why must I love thee? God alone can say; 
He made us, and He knows the woman way 
To love in silence born of deep despair, 
And learn in blessed hope her cross to bear ; 
Ah, love, thy perfect strength could bear it well, 
Wouldst thou still take it for me if I fell? 



io8 



I COULD not speak last night my love to thee; 

There were unnumbered things I wished to say. 

My guardian angel, smiling, whispered, "Nay, 

Let the silence of thy woman love be 

Echoed from thy heart's fond ecstasy." 

It seemed so strange. I could not but obey. 

Time cast the golden sands so fast away 

Before I knew it thou wert gone from me, 

And all my soul was leaping into flame. 

A voice said softly, ''Life will be the same 

No more." My eyes were hot with tears last night, 

Silver tears of trouble, golden of delight. 

I love thee, dear one, yet I tremble so. 

What does the future hold? Ah, who can know? 



109 



Beloved, wilt thou come to me this night, — 
My heart is throbbing in the throes of pain, — 
And wilt thou lay thy hand on mine again? 
I shall be well, and oh, what rare delight! 
There comes upon my quiv'ring soul's insight 
A vision of the Master on the plain, 
And that poor sufT'ring woman who would fain 
Touch but his sacred garment and be right 
And whole again. I think God gave to thee 
A tiny spark of Christlike sympathy. 
Thank Him, beloved, for thy strength and pow*r 
To help a grief-crushed soul in a dark hour. 
Come to me, then, my love, the evening shadows 

fall. 
And soon the dusky night will cover all. 



no 



Ah, me, I wish I had the strength to do 
What really in my soul I know is best : 
Crush mem'ry like a trait'rous thing, then test 
My aching heart and if it still beat true 
Or longed for that dear heart that I well knew 
The while I must not love, take the behest 
Of rigid conscience — But you know the rest. 
Stern conscience ever asks of us what few 
Can bear to do. Tear up the flower of Love 
And in its place watch growing day by day 
Frail Resignation. See the loved one smile 
Or tears within those eyes. O God above, 
Who mad'st man's frail mortality, I pray 
To Thee who knowest I must love the while. 



Ill 



Yet, dear, I cannot bear to think of thee, 
The friend whom I have truly loved so long, 
As passing from my life like a sweet song 
First chanted in our love's fond ecstasy. 
I find I live in deep expectancy 
Of those glad hours when a wondrous throng 
Of angels sing. And sweetest of the songs among 
Are those which in their beauty bring to me 
Soft echoes of the dear days long gone by. 
Painted by Mem'ry's hand I seem to see. 
Beloved, in my visions drawing nigh 
Thy perfect form; and voices speak of thee 
To say that thou art still the friend whom I 
Once loved but learned at last to send from me. 



112 



Dear Friend, I come to thee for one last word, 
One fond farewell before I close the door 
Between our helpless lives forevermore. 
I cannot say but that my heart is stirred 
By strange, sad longings, and when first I heard 
The voice of right echoing from that far shore 
Of honor, I was helpless and forebore 
To do that very deed my soul preferred. 
But now I stand before thee strong to say 
My last farewell, and only ask of thee 
That thou wilt forgive all, so that I may 
Look back upon this blessed dream and see 
The rainbow of forgiveness while I pray 
In deep repentance and sincerity. 



"3 



So thou art gone — nor do I mourn alone, 
All Nature 's piteously calling thee ; 
In the wild moaning of the purple sea 
I hear thy name. Each tree is making moan 
In a low, wild, and cruel, heartfelt tone. 
I stand again on that familiar lea 
And feel, dear heart, thy presence near to me, 
And so rejoice with every pleasure flown 
Except thy blessed memory. 'T is mine 
Own joy to stand here silent, dreaming so 
Upon that life I loved and to entwine 
Around the pillars of my heart aglow 
Memories that will soothe, being divine. 
And coming fresh from God above, I know. 



114 



Dear by-gone days that make sweet echoes rise 
Like incense from the altar of the heart! 
When thought upon, each precious one apart, 
What bliss it is to see that which still lies 
In each dear day, the rainbow of its skies! 
How precious seem the days in which thou art, 

my beloved, and what vital part 

Thou dost assume! How much thy name im- 
plies ! 

1 love to dream upon those sunsets best 
Whose soft and sacred light would seem to blend 
With the stillness of our two souls. And blessed 
By some great unknown power, O my friend, 
Before our weary spirits went to rest, 
Kneeling, we felt our prayers of thanks ascend. 



"5 



I DARE not take it from between the leaves 

Of yon small book — 't would crumble in my 

hand 
Like a shattered sunbeam — you understand, 
It was so long ago. How time deceives 
The heart until it tremblingly believes 
All was a dream. And yet to-day I stand, 
My whole heart reaching back to vision-land 
To revel in the dream-light it receives. 
Dear faded flower, hast thou held the kiss 
Breathed in thy golden chalice and the bliss 
Since lost? If so, ah, give them back to me — 
Give back the hopes, give back the memory; 
A shining sunbeam I enfolded, too, 
Is that a tear? 'T is not a drop of dew. 




ilUilUiiiiimii 



